Friday, December 15, 2006

Judge Roger W. Brown sentenced Stephanie Madariaga, 27, of the 3300 block of Clarks Lane, to a five-year suspended prison term and three years probation. Madariaga pled guilty August 27, 2004 to accessory after the fact to a homicide in connection to the murder of Kevin Shields, 26. On July 12, 2003 Jason Moody killed Madariaga's ex-husband, Kevin Shields following an argument in the parking lot of Mr. Shields' apartment complex in the 3300 block of Clarks Lane. Madariaga was present at the time of this incident and fled with Moody out of the country. Authorities at Newark International Airport eventually arrested Moody and Madariaga September 10, 2003 as they were returning to the United States from the Dominican Republic. A Baltimore City jury convicted Moody September 8, 2006 of manslaughter and weapons counts and he is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence.

As part of her plea agreement, Madariaga was to cooperate as a State's witness in Moody's trial. Madariaga did testify at that trial, but the State argued at the hearing that she did not testify in accordance to the plea agreement and therefore should receive the maximum penalty, five years in prison. The state introduced into evidence records of more than 400 telephone calls Moody placed to Magariaga since Moody's arrest including a transcript in which they discussed what specific information she would testify to in her plea agreement.

Like a dog with a bone, E just can't quit the Timothy Gounaris story. Today's installment, in which The Goun is hired by the same principal twice. But did the so-called former Principal of the Year knew Mr. Tim's little secret all along? And isn't eyeliner on a bald man kind of its own flag?Stay tuned...

Kiss-off lunches of '06:Vozzella: "Bob Ehrlich gave a farewell luncheon-interview the other day, but only invited reporters from papers that had endorsed him in last month's election. The outgoing Gov didn't just shut out reporters from The Sun ... [but] also excluded scribes from the Associated Press and the Frederick News-Post, news organizations that don't, as a matter of policy, endorse candidates." (Last item)

'06's final Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee meeting was yesterday, but (we hear) Rod J. Rosenstein, Sviatko, old Conaway and old "Old Jerve" (left) were the only Big Names ... Hamm, Dixon, Mrs. J, and, of course, O'Malley were all no-shows ... the soup was Creamy potato and a report on gangs was released.

Frederick Jones, 54, of Columbia, HoCo got life for attacking his ex, Natalyn Tart-Jones, with a machete, cutting off her fingers. Natalyn had a protective order, which Jones violated. A criminal case from two years before had been dropped by the court.

I just found out, 20 hours prior, that I must (under threat of arrest- TG I don't have a Real Job) appear at the "Victim Room" of the 3rd floor of Juvie Hall tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. prepared to testify about how one Sherrod N. Lloyd yanked on my garage door and stole my bike back in June! There was a "mutual postponement, charges held in abeyance" while Sherrod was supposed to go to school and do community service or something, but apparently he didn't. So I and officer Basile of the Northern, who allegedly caught Sherrod with my "Trek 3500," get to spend some time on Gay Street trying to compel Sherrod to do right.

The trial of Baltimore police officer William Darrell Welch, 40, of Timonium, Maryland, is scheduled for 9:30 this morning before Judge Allen L. Schwait. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Welch August 23 with one count of second-degree rape and three counts of misconduct in office. If convicted of the count of rape, Welch could be sentenced to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years. Misconduct in office is a common law offense that carries a period of incarceration in whatever amount a court deems is fair and reasonable. The indictment alleges that on July 16 of this year in the Southeastern District Station Welch had sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl after she had been taken into custody by another officer. Welch has been out on $50k bail. Assistant State's Attorney Temmi Rollock of the Sex Offense Division will prosecute this case.Update: Judge Allen L Schwait issued a bench warrant this morning for William Darrell Welch for failing to appear.Correction from Mrs. J's office: The rape trial of William Welch, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed at the request of the defense until March 13, 2007. The bench warrant issued for Welch's arrest earlier today was recalled by Judge Schwait.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury has indicted Jermaine Sanders, 15, of the 2100 block of E. Biddle Street for first-degree murder in connection with the December 1, 2006 fatal stabbing of his 17 year-old brother, Jason Sanders. Jermaine followed Jason Sanders from their home and stabbed the elder brother following a verbal dispute then fled the area on foot. Jason died later at Johns Hopkins Hospital. An arraignment has been scheduled January 7, 2007, Judge Gale Rasin.

Not your sexy kind of story, but sill important: MD. state Ethics Commission staff auditors have "reviewed just 2,600 of the 11,800 financial disclosure statements they received for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2004."

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Judge John M. Glynn sentenced Dameon Woods to 20 years in prison today. On October 12, a Baltimore City jury convicted Woods of second-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault for the May 2005 murder of Raymond Smoot, who was in custody in his cell at Central Booking and Intake.

Dennis James Wallace, 54, of the 3400 block of Leverton Avenue, pled guilty to second-degree murder. Under terms of the plea agreement, Judge Martin P. Welch will sentence Wallace to 17 years in prison on January 30, 2007 following a pre-sentence investigation. On July 31, 1983, police discovered William Gibson's decomposed body in a trash can which was placed in a wooden clothes locker outside a rear basement apartment located at 2221 Pratt Street. The landlord had complained of a strong foul odor coming from the apartment. Police identified Wallace as a potential suspect but 10 days after the incident he was no longer seen and his whereabouts were unknown until he was located on July 28, 2005. Wallace remains held without bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

Survivors Against Violence Everywhere and the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office Family Bereavement Center will sponsor "an evening of Joy, Peace, Laughter, Sharing, and Healing" at 6 tonight at the Clarence Mitchell Jr. Courthouse, 110 N. Calvert Street, room 410 (Lexington Street entrance). There will be a presentation on "Dealing with Grief during the Holidays."

Seventeen-year-old murder victim Guiliano Santos (253) had "had some trouble with fighting at Harbor City High School recently and had been suspended. On Sunday night, Santos received a call from a friend to go to the area where he was shot."

Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job: Baltimore city's is the only regional jail that can't get defendants to court on time, wreaking havoc on the whole system.Benjamin Brown, assistant commissioner of the state Division of Pretrial Detention and Services, says that no one has filed an official complaint.

RIP Mabel E. Hubbard, the first brown woman to serve as a judge of the District Court of Maryland. Hubbard genuiely enjoyed law school and was fond of sayings like "If that is true there is not a dog in Georgia" and "I wouldn't entertain my husband in his underwear in my courtroom" and "I've got to stop coming to court with my neon sign on my forehead saying 'Fool. Fool. Fool.' That way you'll be [less] inclined to spit in my face and tell me it's raining."

Monday, December 11, 2006

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Lataye Shyreise King, 16, of the 1900 block of E. 31st Street with first-degree murder and other counts. Court documents allege on November 7, 2006 Lataye King and three other persons approached Nicole Edmonds and her brother as they exited the MTA Light Rail Train at the W. North Avenue station. Nicole's brother was thrown to the ground and a jacket was pulled over his head and that as Nicole ran away, she was chased, caught and fatally stabbed. An arraignment is scheduled for January 16, 2007 before Judge Gale E. Rasin, 509 Courthouse East. Assistant State's Attorney Paul O'Connor will prosecute the case.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Miquel Johnson, 25, of the 1700 block of Laurens Street on first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of Michael Griffin, 43. Court documents allege the stabbing occurred on November 26 in the 3900 block of Groveland Avenue following a disagreement with Johnson. An arraignment is scheduled for January 18, 2007 before Judge Rasin, 509 Courthouse East. Assistant State's Attorney Mark Cohen will prosecute this case.